iOS 27 Launches Worldwide, but Apple Blocks Its Biggest AI Features in Europe

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple Inc. officially released iOS 27 on Monday, beginning a global software rollout for hundreds of millions of iPhone users. The launch coincides with synchronized updates to iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27.

The update is available over the air (OTA). Users can start the installation manually by opening Settings > General > Software Update. The device must be connected to a power charger or have a battery charge above 50 percent, and Apple recommends creating a data backup before installation.

Support extends to every hardware model compatible with the previous iOS 26 build, reaching devices introduced in 2019. The supported iPhone models include:

* iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17e
* iPhone Air
* iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and iPhone 16e
* iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max
* iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max
* iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max
* iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max
* iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max
* iPhone SE (second and third generation)

For users outside the European Union, the central new feature is “Siri AI,” an overhauled virtual assistant based on artificial intelligence models developed through a technical partnership using Google’s Gemini technology. It can use personal context data to carry out multi-step actions across native and third-party applications.

Apple has also integrated Apple Intelligence into Safari, Photos, and the Home app, while expanding system-wide accessibility features. A dedicated conversational application supports direct text and voice interaction with Siri AI, making it a native counterpart to standalone platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude.

Those capabilities will not be available at launch in Spain or the other 27 EU member countries. Apple is withholding Siri AI and associated Apple Intelligence tools across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and watchOS 27 because of ongoing regulatory disputes with the European Commission over the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The DMA sets operational requirements for designated digital “gatekeepers,” including rules covering cross-service data integration, fair competition, and third-party software interoperability. Apple has cited uncertainty over regulatory compliance under the DMA as the reason for restricting the AI features within the trade bloc.

The release also changes the interface and core system performance. A new user-adjustable transparency control slider for the “Liquid Glass” interface lets users modify visual blur and opacity across system windows and menus. Performance optimizations are intended to reduce resource consumption on older devices.

Apple updated the peer-to-peer AirDrop protocol as part of the connectivity changes, enabling file-transfer speeds up to 80 percent faster than in previous software generations. The newly unveiled iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will ship with iOS 27 pre-installed.

Apple’s first foldable device, the iPhone Duo, is scheduled to launch in October with an updated build, iOS 27.1.